Choosing the right accountant can make a big difference. The wrong fit can cost you money and opportunities, while the right one helps you stay on top of tax, protect your income, and set yourself up for growth.
So how do you go about finding the perfect accountant for you?
Well, we’ve developed a simple guide to help get you started by giving you things to look out for, questions to ask and a downloadable checklist to keep you on track.
Industry Knowledge & Experience
The first thing to look for in a new accountant is whether they have experience in your particular industry. For example, a construction business has very different accounting needs than a farming operation, and a property investor’s requirements are different again. An accountant familiar with your particular activity will understand common pitfalls and can help you avoid costly mistakes.
You should also check whether the accountant has experience working with clients of a similar size and revenue. The complexity of your accounts grows with your portfolio or business, and a hands-on accountant who’s dealt with clients at your scale will manage this efficiently.
Finally, consider whether they have experience with your stage of growth. Strategies and service needs differ depending on whether you’re just starting out, scaling up, or preparing to sell or restructure. The right accountant can guide you through tax planning, compliance, and strategic decisions that match where you are now and where you want to go.
Level of Expertise
The second thing to work out is if the accountant can actually provide the services and support that you need.
Do you need a tax and compliance accountant to manage your end of year tax obligations and filings, a bookkeeper to reconcile your daily cash transactions, a payroll provider to manage staff and PAYE payments, a business advisor to mentor you for growth or a combination of these? An accountant may not offer bookkeeping or payroll services and sometimes it is actually better to separate these roles out to specialists rather than try and find a “Do it all” type.
Then, think about what level of support do you need for these services? Annually for the end of your financial year reports and filings, weekly updates or maybe even daily support? This will determine if the practise has the bandwidth and number of staff to be able to provide what you need.
You need to also make sure that the accountant can support the accounting software that you use, or help you change software if it’s needed. Accountants often display what software they support and their level of proficiency (or partner status) on their websites as a clue to guide you.
You should also ensure that your accountant is sufficiently authorised to be able to deal directly with the IRD on your behalf as a tax agent so as to stop you from having to be the “piggy in the middle” in complex conversations with the IRD.
Reputation and Reviews
You also want to check that your potential new accountant has a good long-standing reputation for delivering against its promises. You can do this by looking for independent reviews from third parties through websites like Facebook and Google. Search for the accountant’s business name and see what comes up.
You also want to check out how long the accounting practise has been operating for as a young firm might not have the experience you need and they might not be around for the long term.
Price vs. Value
Finding the perfect accountant also means getting great value for your business, and while many “How to find an accountant” articles suggest you should use a Chartered Accountant (CA), unless you specifically need a CA you might not necessarily get the best value. In most cases a member of Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand (ATAINZ) will be able to provide you with everything that your business needs without the extra cost of a CA.
On the flipside, the cheapest isn’t necessarily better either. A cheap accountant can be a sign that you are dealing with a “one-man band” or worse, they could be sending your sensitive, private data offshore for processing to a country that has cheap labour.
Word of Mouth Recommendations
Another way of finding a good accountant is to ask for recommendations from friends in business or friends in your industry. Their accountants may not tick all of the other boxes above, but this can help to shrink your shortlist down to a more manageable number for follow up.
If you aren’t comfortable asking friends, then you could talk with your Chamber of Commerce or even your local Regional Business Partners Network representative. A side benefit of engaging with these organisations is that they can recommend help for any other professional support you might need in your business. Also, the regional partners network has available funding for development and training that could subsidise some of your costs.
Location and Availability
You should also think about how you would like to deal with your accountant, do you need to see them face to face, or are you happy talking over the phone or working with them online? Do they have physical offices near you and are they set-up to take meetings?
Also consider your relationship preference, do they have a team of specialists able to support your business or do you want one person working with you?
Test Them Out
Before committing, test responsiveness:
- Request a quote or ask a question through their website.
- Were they prompt, clear, and jargon-free?
- First impressions often indicate how they’ll manage your ongoing relationship.
Next Steps
We’ve put together a downloadable checklist to help you navigate the accountant selection process.
Curious how easy it is to switch accountants? We’ve written a simple guide to show you the process – read the guide here.
Finding the right accountant isn’t just about compliance, it’s about setting your business up for growth, efficiency, and peace of mind. At Kiwitax, we combine industry knowledge, personalised support, and clear pricing to help you focus on what you do best.
Ready to Get Started?
Take the next step today. Let’s chat or you can get a quote.
About Kiwitax – Award winning business improvement, tax and accounting service
Here’s the thing. As a business, rental property owner or start-up, you get a kick out of having your own gig. But chances are dealing with your tax and accounting leaves you cold. Good news! We love it, so hand it over to Kiwitax and we’ll look after it all for you.
Whether you deal with us online, by phone or drop into our Napier office, you’ll find a friendly, professional hardworking team ready to work with you, however you keep track of your financial information and from wherever you do business. And all for a fixed price.
Plus if you’re at a loss to know how to improve aspects of your business – from growth planning to cashflow management, even tax debt and so much more – we’re all over that too. Our Business Improvement advisors can help you make a plan and put it into action.
If you liked this article and want to make improvements in your business, with quarterly coaching sessions specifically tailored to support you to identify and achieve your business goals, lets chat!